Дюна
Book One: Dune
“HowmanyofHawat’smistakescanyourecall?”
“Ishouldbetheonedefendinghim,”theDukesaid.“Notyou.”
Paulsmiled.
Letosatdownattheheadofthetable,putahandoverhisson’s.“You’ve...maturedlately,Son.”Heliftedhishand.“Itgladdensme.”Hematchedhisson’ssmile.“Hawatwillpunishhimself.He’lldirectmoreangeragainsthimselfoverthisthanbothofustogethercouldpouronhim.”
Paulglancedtowardthedarkenedwindowsbeyondthemapboard,lookedatthenight’sblackness.Roomlightsreflectedfromabalconyrailingoutthere.HesawmovementandrecognizedtheshapeofaguardinAtreidesuniform.Paullookedbackatthewhitewallbehindhisfather,thendowntotheshinysurfaceofthetable,seeinghisownhandsclenchedintofiststhere.
ThedooroppositetheDukebangedopen.ThufirHawatstrodethroughitlookingolderandmoreleatherythanever.Hepaceddownthelengthofthetable,stoppedatattentionfacingLeto.
“MyLord,”hesaid,speakingtoapointoverLeto’shead,“IhavejustlearnedhowIfailedyou.ItbecomesnecessarythatItendermyresig—”
“Oh,sitdownandstopactingthefool,”theDukesaid.HewavedtothechairacrossfromPaul.“Ifyoumadeamistake,itwasinoverestimatingtheHarkonnens.Theirsimplemindscameupwithasimpletrick.Wedidn’tcountonsimpletricks.Andmysonhasbeenatgreatpainstopointouttomethathecamethroughthislargelybecauseofyourtraining.Youdidn’tfailthere!”Hetappedthebackoftheemptychair.“Sitdown,Isay!”
Hawatsankintothechair.
